Chapter 27

"Henry has already taken all the blame. Of course, he doesn't know anything."

Kian stood there, frustrated. "So what now? Hold him for 48 hours and then cut him loose?"

"Cut him loose? Once he's here, he's not going anywhere."

Travis's eyes were cold. "Check out every place Aurora went before she died, and everyone she interacted with."

"Got it!"

Kian turned and walked out.

Travis fiddled with his lighter.

Elaine had mentioned that Aurora had traces of three different men's semen in her body.

The priority now was to find these three men.

It was already ten o'clock at night when Travis left the police station.

There were only two days left until Joshua's deadline. If the case couldn't be solved in two days, Ewan and Tate would apply pressure, and the case might be closed without resolution.

Travis wandered aimlessly down the street.

His mind was consumed with thoughts of Aurora's case.

In all his years on the force, this was the closest he'd ever been to drugs.

In Hillcrest, of all places, there was drug activity.

His phone rang.

Jerry's raspy voice came through: "Wanna grab a drink?"

"Where?"

Jerry sent Travis a location.

Blinding lights, pulsating music, and dancers flaunting their bodies in the club.

Arriving at the booth, Travis sat down and immediately downed a bottle of beer.

He looked at Jerry with a smirk. "Didn't peg you for this kind of scene."

Jerry's eyes were fixed on Travis, his voice hoarse as he leaned in, eyes still locked on a spot. "See that guy?"

Following Jerry's gaze, Travis saw a clean-cut man sitting alone in a corner.

The man suddenly glanced in their direction.

Their eyes met in the air.

Jerry's hand landed on Travis's shoulder.

He picked up a bottle of beer and waved it at the man, throwing a flirtatious wink.

"Don't move!" Jerry held Travis down.

"Look at him with some sadness."

Jerry's words echoed in Travis's ears, making him widen his eyes.

"Do it!"

Jerry urged.

Travis took a deep breath, trying to soften his gaze.

At this moment, Travis didn't look like a cop.

He looked more like a gay man about to be abandoned by his boyfriend.

Jerry signaled to a waiter and pointed to the man's location.

The waiter looked surprised, glanced at the man with interest, then nodded and left.

Soon, the waiter brought a cocktail to the man.

"Sir, this is from that gentleman. He said he's very interested in you and wants to get to know you."

The waiter spoke with a teasing tone.

The man glanced at Jerry, then told the waiter to get lost with a look of disgust.

Jerry relaxed in the booth, seeing the man no longer looking their way.

But his hand remained on Travis's shoulder.

Travis lowered his voice. "What are you up to?"

Jerry smiled, occasionally glancing at the man.

Jerry whispered intimately in Travis's ear, "I've been watching this guy for a long time."

Travis's expression changed. Anyone Jerry watched closely...

"A drug dealer?"

Travis was about to look over when Jerry's low voice stopped him. "Don't look!"

Travis chuckled bitterly, realizing Jerry had a plan.

"We don't have anyone suitable at the station; they all look too straight-laced. So I need your help."

Jerry chuckled.

Travis's face darkened. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Jerry teased, "You look more like a wronged wife right now."

"Shut up."

Travis cursed, and the two sat "sweetly" together.

Jerry occasionally fed Travis sips of his cocktail.

It disgusted Travis. In all his years on the force, he'd never been hit on by a guy.

"Just help a brother out this once, I'll treat you to dinner later."

Travis drank his beer in frustration, not speaking.

Just then, the man stood up and headed for the door.

"Let's go!"

Jerry quickly stood up.

"I'll pretend to be drunk, you play along."

Jerry instructed Travis on the way.

Travis nodded.

Jerry's acting skills kicked in immediately.

He hung on Travis, his right arm around Travis's waist.

They quickly caught up to the man, Jerry's face looking dazed as he approached.

He grabbed the man about to leave.

"Sir! Interested in spending the night?"

The man looked at Jerry with disgust.

"Get lost!"

"Feisty, I like it!"

Jerry pulled out a credit card. "Spend the night with me, and this $10,000 is yours."

"I said get lost, didn't you understand?"

Jerry let go of Travis. "Don't want it? I always get what I want."

The man looked at the time, anxious.

Ignoring Jerry, he broke free and walked out.

Just outside, he felt a strong force from behind.

He fell to the ground, unable to control himself.

Before he could react, Jerry was on top of him.

As he tried to resist, something cuffed his wrist.

The man's face turned pale, terrified as he looked at Jerry.

Jerry was no longer pretending to be drunk.

He pulled the man up. "Sir, since you don't want to cooperate, don't blame me."

"Stop staring, get the car!"

Jerry urged Travis.

Travis brought the car around, and Jerry shoved the man inside.

Jerry and the man sat in the back.

"Kid, you're hard to catch."

"What do you mean?"

Jerry chuckled, looking at the man. "You know exactly what I mean."

Hearing this, Travis shivered. It was gross.

They arrived at the station, and the man was stunned.

He'd thought they were role-playing, but now...

'This is real?' He looked at Jerry, thinking, 'Do cops go this far for criminals?'

"Like what you see? I'll show you around."

Jerry dragged the man inside.

"Jerry, you're back."